Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-05-06
OLD HICKORY'S HERMITAGE.
4 Visit to the Interesting Tennessee
Home OF Andrew Jackson.

A correspondent OF the Chicago 1rib-
me. who recently visited 1.-The Hermit
age" Andrew Jackson's old Tennessee
country seat, writes as follows:
When my presence became known
on the broad piazza an aged negro
came forward and greeted me with GU
rious and quaint politeness His hair
was white, his black face wrinkled and
wzzened and he was but poorly dress
ell. welcome, sah to de Hermitage,
he said, with broad salaam and sweep
of his ancient hat soon learned that
this was Uncle Alfred one of the
last of Gen. Jackson's servants. He
was born at the Hermitage eighty
four years ago and has never left the
place. He is now kind of factotum,
and to him has been especially assign
ell the task of escorting such pilgrims
AS may visit the historic spot and wor-
ship at the shrine of st. Andrew. He
is comica old soul. &c way, chillen,"
he excla med to group of youngsters
of all shades, who had gathered about.
"Hy'a you. JIM tie de gemman's boss;
come in. sah" and Uncle Alfred led the
way through the massive oaken door
into the great hall of the "Hermitage.'
There was suggestion of grandeur
about this old hall, even though it were
barren of adornmcnt and not wholly
free from the ravages of time and pres
ence of dust. Uncle Alfred placed an
old-fashoned hickory bottomed chair
for his visitor and at once began to
explain, in his old-fashioned, obsequious
way. that "de Kunner' (CoL Andrew
Jackson. jr.), was not at home. "He
done gone to Nashville" said the old
man, with u touch of sadness in his
voice They So trying TO g We the old
place away to de GUY ment, and de
Kunnel gone to town TO see de Legis-
latur. Guess dey won't drive ole mis-
sus out and all of Us, but dc Kunnel's
mighty 'fraid of dem folks in Nash
Vile
just then feeble. querulous voice
came from an inner room. Alfred
Yes, missus," and the old man. with
"Scuse me, sah!' hobbled through
side door. WHO is the gentleman?'
heard the same voice ask. where is
Andrew? | will not leave here till
Andrew comes"
] OWNED at once that this was the
aged daughter-in-law Of Andrew Jack
son. | beckoned Uncle Alfred, handed
him a card, and ask if | could see Mrs.
Jackson. In second the old servant,
bowling and scraping, ushered me into
plainly room. In great
easy chair sat a decrepit old lady. Her
little body swayed back and forth, her
neat Little cap was closely drawn over
thin, white hair, and her eyes was
lustreless. She put forth an attenuated
hand and smiled in kind of helpless
way. but SAID with dignity: Il trust,
sir. you W II not require me to leave I'M
til my son returns. | am very old, and
it would be cruel to force me out of the
house without seeing him FIRST" at
one assured the old lady that had no
such mission. She became calm, and
toyed with the card a moment. you
came from Nashville ?" she asked.
told her yes. but did not live there. Il
am from Chicago
"Ah Chicago What great city
that is. My father" and here the old
lady drew herself up proudly, my
father took great interest in Chicago
when it was only Fort Dearborn. But
| have never been there. Hannah -
A likely young colored woman appear
The gentleman Will excuse me, l
know; must lie down. Alfred will
show you about the place, sir. Here,
Hannah, give me your arm.
The old lady rose slowly and feebly.
and supported by her servant, tottered
from the room.
"Missus is gittin' mighty DID," said
Alfred, who appeared; "she's eighty
three now, an she's drefful fraid of
bein put out of the Hermitage. y
Alfred led the way to the back piazza
and with reverential foretnger pointed
out small log house with two windows
AM an outside chimney, such as are SO
common in the South. dat was de
house ole mass. de Ginl. first lived
in" he said, in retrospective tone.
"Dis yer house was built in 1926, but
de Gin'l never 'joyed hissclf yer. Dat
ole house was where he lived wild de
fus' m ssus-dar was where he cum
when he cum back from New Awleans;
dar where his frens use TO come befo'
he was President. / was bawn dar,
sab 4! Ny nanny was the GINS cook,
an you see dat kitchen often de cabin
/ was bawn dar, sab. in 1902. "
| saw that Uncle Alfred was in "a
communicative mood and that he had
a remarkable memory. and SO l let him
rattle on. "Dis yer house was built in
1S26-now wait; not dis yer house ex-